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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 9, 2005 Rogue River talks stall on new deal for teacher union By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Contract negotiations between the Rogue River School District and the teachers’ union have reached an impasse, officials said this week. The district canceled a scheduled Sept. 21 negotiation meeting after seven prior monthly meetings failed to yield a contract. "A number of issues remain on the table," said Susan Crumpton of the Oregon Education Association. The biggest differences involve economic issues — particularly those in which the union is seeking protections against the district’s ability to "restrict its work force," said the district’s attorney, Bruce Zagar of Salem. The proposed two-year contract does not increase salary schedules or include a cost of living increase. Advertisement The starting salary for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree is $29,008. A 14-year teacher with a master’s degree and 24 units of additional credits would earn $52,494 annually. The district insists on language which would allow it to implement short-term lay-offs of all staff members for up to 15 days in order to balance future budgets. A bargaining council could offer comment on layoffs before they occur, but the final decision to would be left to the School Board. The board’s ability to cut school days — and thereby teachers’ pay — must be protected for the survival of the district as a whole, Zagar said. "There’s the conflict," said Zagar. Teacher and union representative Joe Burns said the board is not willing to meet in the middle. "They’ve set things in stone and there really hasn’t been any negotiating," said Burns. "The (board’s) stance is they are the management and they want us to be the employees. They don’t get it." Staff must to be included in district decision-making, Burns said, particularly when it affects student/teacher issues like safe working conditions, classroom size and management and professional evaluations. But the teachers’ concerns appear to be falling on deaf ears, Crumpton said. "It’s hard to hear ‘that’s not a problem’ from people who are not in the classroom," she said. Asking for a "blank check" on layoffs and other matters is disrespectful to their professional judgment and contributions, Crumpton said. "We’re not asking for a bunch of money when we know what the financial situation is," said Crumpton. "Employees have done a lot to support the district financially." It’s not about disrespect, says 20-year board member Dick Handbury. It’s about a small, rural and financially squeezed district trying to manage with inadequate state and federal funding. The money crunch has forced the two sides into their adversarial positions, Handbury said. "I’m disappointed," said Handbury. "The School Board and the staff are put into this difficult situation due to economic constraints neither can cope with." The district remains in operation under the old contract, which expired on June 30. Negotiations will resume in mid-October with the assistance of a mediator from the Conciliation Services Division of the State Employment Relations Board. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Rogue River talks stall on new deal for teacher union ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s